Nellore: Primary Education Minister N. Rajyalakshmi has said that construction of school buildings in the State will be taken up in a phased manner, by utilising the first instalment of Rs. 100 crores sanctioned by NABARD.

She told reporters here on Monday that the organisation has agreed to lend up to Rs. 300 crores in three phases and in the first phase Rs. 100 crores will be spent.

NABARD has sanctioned the amount on the basis of proposals sent by the Finance Department based on the study of the Education Department.

The State Government is concentrating on steps to conduct class X examinations in a commendable manner and has sanctioned 60 additional centres in interior areas, having no treasury and police facilities, in the interest of students who otherwise have to trek a long distance to take the examinations.

Periodical meetings

The Minister dismissed reports regarding apprehensions in conducting the examinations and said that periodical meetings were held with the officials and there will be a conference of DEOs at the end of this month.

Efforts were on to curb copying, she asserted. Ms. Rajyalakshmi said that three residential schools and three hostels for mentally challenged children were planned in six districts.

To meet the additional requirements of teaching, in view of promotions of some teachers as Mandal Education Officers (MEO), it was proposed to utilise the services of those having BEd qualification. Much emphasis was also laid on improvement of the language of students, she said.

Sishu Vihar

The Minister said that there were 172 children up to the age group of six in Sishu Vihar, Hyderabad, under the care of the department. These include sick, abandoned and crippled children and free boarding and lodging is provided for all of them.

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